Feature Request - Entra-ID exclude objects from backup

[oscarm]

I would like to request the ability to be able to exclude objects from the Entra-ID backup.

[veremin]

Can you explain your use case a bit, specifically why you need to exclude certain objects from the Entra ID backup and what those objects are? Is it because we currently license all users indiscriminately, and you would like to exclude, for example, external users or something similar from licensing? Thanks!

[oscarm]

Sure. We have a distribution group that was created for a teams enabled device. This group gives a warning. I have asked the engineer that created it but he cannot remember how it was done en why it was done that way. To get the teams enabled device working he spend about a week together with the manufacturer to get it working correctly. So in this situation we have a warning every time the job runs. I would like to exclude this distribution group from being backed up so the warning is gone.

So it is not for licensing I want to exclude users. I am aware that if the distribution group accidently gets deleted, I won't be able to restore it from entra-id backup.

[veremin]

Thank you for the clarification; the situation has become clearer. Currently, we have no short-term plans to support exclusions, partly because excluding one object from the backup scope might affect the restoration of other objects that are related to or reference it.

However, we will keep your request in mind for future versions of our product.

[oscarm]

thank you Veremin!

[iDeNt_5]

+1 from my side!

Thanks.

[veremin]

We would appreciate it if you could, in turn, elaborate on your reason for wanting to exclude certain items from the backup. This would give us a better understanding of the purposes and ways in which you plan to use this functionality.

Additionally, there's a concern whether you are not worried that excluding certain items from the backup might affect other items that depend on or reference them.

Thanks!

[iDeNt_5]

Hi Veremin,

Keeping your warning in mind, I also have another customer that is requiring this feature for the very same reason oscarm is asking for, a way to save VULs by not using them to protect users who don't need a backup.

Thanks.

[veremin]

According to oscarm, he wants to exclude certain objects from the backup for reasons unrelated to licensing — rather, he wants to avoid endless warnings when backing up problematic objects.

Regarding licensing, we plan to revise the current licensing model in the future product versions and may stop counting instances for backing up external and disabled users. Perhaps this solution will suit you and allow you to save a few additional VULs.

Thanks!

[iDeNt_5]

Hi Veremin,

Sorry, I misread a part of his message.

Thanks for your answer, the license model you mentioned would be a good upgrade on this.

[veremin]

Great to hear that the planned changes are exactly what you need. Stay tuned.